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Who's Who - Rudolf Berthold

Rudolf Berthold (1891-1920),
with 44 air victories, was one of Germany's highest-rated
fighter pilots
during World War One.

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Born on 24 March 1891 near
Bamberg, Berthold signed up with the German Army in 1910, serving with the
infantry. He turned his attention to nascent air technology three
years later, learning to fly in 1913. He was thus well-placed to
request (and receive) a transfer to the German Air Service once war broke
out in August 1914.

Serving initially as an
observer he began flying single-seat fighters in 1916 and in August that
year formed Jasta 4. Somewhat accident prone - no small matter in
aerial warfare - Berthold developed a pattern of invariably returning to
active duty before his most recent injuries had fully healed.

Handed command of Jasta 14
Berthold suffered serious injury in May 1917 while his Pfalz D.III was shot
down. Despite the severity of his injuries - which included a
fractured skull, thigh, pelvis and broken nose - he nevertheless returned to
service three months later, taking charge of Jasta 18.

Within two months he was
temporarily incapacitated again, suffering a shot wound on 10 October 1917.
Returning to action he was handed a further command, Jagdgeschwader 2.
Berthold held out for longer than usual, suffering fresh injuries on 10
August 1918 when his Fokker D.VII crashed into a house after colliding with
an enemy aircraft (he had already shot down two Allied 'planes that day).

Thus Berthold's war was
over. He was murdered by a rioting mob on 15 March 1920 in Harburg: it
is claimed that he was strangled with the ribbon from the prestigious
Pour le
Merite award he received in October 1916.